Refreshed scheme (2026)

Gears and pulleys

Investigating the history, mechanics and uses of gears and pulleys.

Free trial

New statutory RSHE guidance is here. We’re creating our brand new RSE & PSHE scheme ready for September 2026. Learn more
  1. Subjects >
  2. Design and technology >
  3. Key stage 2 >
  4. Year 5 >
  5. Mechanical systems: Gears and pulleys

Unit outcomes

Pupils who are secure will be able to:

  • Give examples of machines that use gears and/or pulleys.
  • Describe how gears and pulleys work and their purpose.
  • Design and make a gear and pulley system.
  • Write a problem statement.
  • Write questions for market research, provide feedback and research market competitors.
  • Write and use a design brief to guide design.
  • Evaluate a product against a set of design criteria, provide useful feedback and incorporate changes.
  • Draw and annotate an eco-gadget bike design.

Suggested prior learning

Mechanical systems: Mechanical cars

Get started

Lessons

Refreshed
Free!

Lesson 1: Gears

  • To create a working gear system and explain its function.

View lesson now
Refreshed

Lesson 2: Improving your gear design

View lesson
Refreshed

Lesson 3: Pulleys

View lesson
Refreshed

Lesson 4: Eco-gadget bike project: Market research

View lesson
Refreshed

Lesson 5: Eco-gadget bike project: Design

View lesson

Key skills

Design

  • Noticing wider-reaching
Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

Key knowledge

To know:

  • Mechanical systems that
Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

Key vocabulary

annotate

axle

Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

Equipment list

Equipment needed across all lessons in this unit.

This list does not include equipment which is usually readily available in the classroom (e.g pencils, A4 paper etc)

Download

Full equipment list for the subject

Quantities marked × will update. Items without quantities are unaffected

  • A ball ×15
  • Sticky notes
  • Video recording devices
  • Devices with internet access ×15
  • Card ×30
  • Corrugated card ×30
  • A selection of Paper fasteners (split pins)
  • A selection of Paper fasteners (split pins)
  • Modelling dough ×30
  • A selection of Sticky tack
  • A selection of Paper clips
  • A selection of Thumb tacks / drawing pins
  • A selection of Toothpicks
  • Books
  • Masking tape ×1
  • Glue stick ×30
  • Hot glue gun Adult supervision required - hot surface. ×1
  • PVA glue ×1
  • Scissors right- and left-handed options recommended. ×30
  • Thread ×30

  • Plastic sewing machine bobbins.

         ×30
Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

Related content

    Resources

Unit resources

Padlock
Design and technology

Knowledge organiser: D&T – Y5 Gears and pulleys

Aimed at pupils, two pages providing key facts and definitions from the unit 'Option 1: *New* Gears and pulleys.'.

View
Padlock
Design and technology

Vocabulary display: Gears and pulleys

A display version of the key vocabulary from the Gears and pulleys unit.

View

Subject resources

Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

Cross-curricular opportunities

Science: Forces.

Geography: Human and physical geography.

British values: Mutual respect.

Build on the learning

Mechanical systems: Automata toys

Get started

Popular content

Other subjects

Please don’t screenshot or copy images from this page.
Kapow Primary resources are created by teachers and protected by copyright. Copying images or slides into your own presentations (for example using the Snipping Tool) counts as reproducing the resource and isn’t permitted under the Kapow licence.
This resource is being accessed through your school’s Kapow licence.
Thank you for respecting the work of the teachers who create these materials.